Top Ten Resume Mistakes

You may not realize how many people you are actually competing against for a single
job. It could literally be hundreds or thousands of other applicants. One mistake will
take you out of the running within seconds. Below you will find 10 common résumé
mistakes. Is it time to revise your résumé?
1. Mistake: Using a unique, creative layout or style to stand out from the crowd.
The best way to stand out from the crowd is with high quality content, organized with
clear and concise bullet points. It needs to be a clearly written, neat, 100% error-free
document. Employers are looking for solid content. Your layout should enhance
your experience and achievements in a way that is clear and well organized.
2. Mistake: Typos.
Did you know that some recruiters throw a résumé away if it has ONE error in it?
Recruiters will read between the lines and assume you either don’t care about your
work or can’t write. If you have an error in the most critical document that is suppose
to present yourself and your abilities, then the employer will assume you will make
even more errors on the job!
It's easy to miss your own typos. Use spell check, but remember it won't catch every
error. Ask several people to proofread or pay a little to have a professional help you.
3. Mistake: Long wordy descriptions in your objective and elsewhere.
You don't need complete sentences in your résumé. Concise, understandable phrases
using bullet points are sufficient. Be specific to the actual job you are looking for. If
you don’t know, you will need to research different job descriptions. Find your
passion! Make your objective (and your résumé) reflect it!
4. Mistake: Using “I” in your résumé.
Don’t use “I” in your résumé. The résumé will be clearer and more concise when you
remove personal pronouns. This could be another cause to have your résumé thrown
away or deleted.
5. Mistake: Leaving Off important information.
You may think it’s not necessary to mention the jobs you've taken to earn extra
money for school. Typically, however, the soft skills you've gained from these
experiences (e.g., work ethic, leadership, time management) are more important to
employers than you might think.
If you have experience that dates further than you’d like to list on your résumé,
consider reformatting your résumé into a functional style.
6. Mistake: Not tailoring your résumé to a specific job.
You should have a specific résumé written for a specific job. This will take the
guesswork out of it for the employer and help you secure the job that you want. Your
goal should be to land a job that is a good fit for you – not just any job. This is not
only about the employer finding a good candidate; it’s about YOU finding a great job
that fits your experience and future goals. So, be specific. As mentioned in #3,
research and find out what you really want to do!
7. Mistake: Not being specific with your accomplishments.
Don’t just list all of your tasks and duties. You will need to think strategically and
list your accomplishments. Your résumé should contain specific examples of how
your employers benefited from your performance. Wherever possible, include
measurable outcomes of your work. Quantify and qualify them.
Example:
Task = Attended group meetings and recorded minutes.
Accomplishment = Used laptop computer to record weekly meeting minutes and
compiled them in a Microsoft Word-based file for future organizational reference.
8. Mistake: Too much personal information.
It is not necessary to add your hobbies, marital status or other irrelevant facts about
your personal life. Keep it professional! Employers don’t need to know how many
children you have or what you do on the weekend. It may be wise to remove
graduation dates, as well. This gives the employer the ability to calculate your age.
If you are posting your résumé on Internet sites then remove your address – for
security reasons.
9. Mistake: Not highlighting your value.
Make sure your résumé shows how you will add value to the operation and growth of
the organization. Answer the question, “What difference will you make in my
organization?” That means you will need to research the company you are applying
to and understand how you fit in. Every employer wants to build ‘human capital’.
Show the employer how you will be an asset for their company.
10. Mistake: Too many pages.
It is wise to limit your résumé to two pages. That is, generally, the industry standard.
Some companies have specific requirements on page length, cover letter, references,
etc. In these cases, you will need to research the company and submit exactly what is
required.